Lithgow owes its foundations to its railway and the creation of its first station, Bowenfels, was marked on Saturday, October 19 by the arrival of a vintage steam train.
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Community members and train lovers gathered in Lithgow on Saturday, not only to see the Beyer-Garratt 6029 roll in just after midday, but to visit local museums, many of which were paying their own tribute to the day.
At State Mine Heritage Park and Railway, a vintage train painted in original colours by the team at Lithgow Railway Workshop hosted a Devonshire tea at 10am, while train enthusiasts boarded diesel engines for shuttle trips to Wallerawang through the day from Lithgow's current station.
At Bowenfels station, which was founded on October 18, 1869, the crowd gathered to be entertained by the Lithgow City Band and Highland Pipe Band, the community choir and the Lithgow Living History Society.
The Society's camera showcased vintage photographs for visitors, showing the early days of the station.
Just after midday the steam train, the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, arrived much to the joy of all those gathered.
Lithgow City Council mayor Cr Ray Thompson paid tribute to the railway and its "pivotal role in the development of Lithgow".
"It was the catalyst for the industrialisation of Lithgow on two fronts as NSW Railways required supplies of good steaming coal and steel was needed for the construction and maintenance of the rail network," he said.
Dr Brownyn Hanna, speaking about the heritage of the site, paid tribute to its design.
"The station, the station master's residence and the gatekeeper's cottage were all small in scale but grand in design, all constructed in stone, indicating the high status and importance of this stop as the initial inland terminus of NSW Railways.
"Lithgow didn't exist when the railway was first established, but the railway itself encouraged the opening up of the coalfields here, which enabled the steel industry and later the Small Arms Factory, to be established here."
Bowenfels station was closed to passenger traffic in 1974. The building was briefly used as a tourist information centre in the 1990's, while the station master's residence was a popular restaurant, Caddies.
"Although now unused, both buildings are on the State, and the local and the Sydney Trains heritage list," Dr Hanna said.
In recognition of the 150th anniversary, she said Sydney Train had carried out works on the exterior renovation works.
"This year Sydney Trains has partnered with the University of Sydney heritage conservation course to collaborate with post-graduate students to write conservation plans for nine of our heritage listed stations, including this one here at Bowenfels," Dr Hanna said.
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